Razor



Aug. 19, 1947. H. osTRosKY RAZOR Filed Jan. 27, 194:5

Patented Aug. 19, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

This invention relates to a razor and has particular reference to animproved safety razor construction involving novel means for holdingreplaceable blades, a construction which permits more eiective andsatisfactory holding of the razor when in operation, the provision forcollapse of the razor into a compact structure when not in use, and theprovision of means for holding a blade when not in use and for holding ablade and guiding it for proper stropping.

'I'he foregoing will indicate the general objects of the presentinvention. These and other objects of the invention will become clearhereafter from the following description read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is an elevation illustrating the improved razor in itscondition for use;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same illustrating in particular themethod of holding it;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the plane indicated at 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation similar to Figure 2 but showingthe razor' in collapsed position;

Figure 5 is a bottom end View of Figure 1 illustrating in particular thehousing of ablade when not in use;

Figure 6 is a transverse section of the lower portion of the razorillustrating in particular the fashion in which a blade is held forstropping;

Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating more clearly than in the-previous figures the fashion in which the blade is held when in use;

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view similar to the upper portion ofFigure 3 but showing in full lines the conditions existing when theblade is being either removed or placed in position for shaving and indotted lines the position of the razor at the initiation of loading witha blade or the completion of removal of a blade;

Figure 9 isa perspective view showing an alternativeconstructioninvolving a diierent stropping guide arrangement;

Figure 10 is a section taken on the plane indicated at lil-l0 in Figure9; and

Figure l1 is a sectional View similar to Figure l0 but illustrating afurther modification.

Referring to Figures l-to 8, inclusive, the razor shown thereincomprises a main body portion 2 formed desirably of fairly light sheetmetal and having a thin extension indicated at 4 which is turned uponitself at 6 to provide a portion 8 which is so sprung as to resilientlynormally engage the portion 4. The upper end of the extension 8 isturned as indicated at lil away from the body and has its concave sidedesirably serrated or roughened as indicated at I2 to provide a goodgrip. Upturned ears I4 are desirably provided on opposite sides ofextension il, shaped as illustrated.

Pivoted at I6 to ears I8 of the body 2 is the head 20 of the razor whichalso may be formed of heavy sheet metal, shaped as indicated. Thiscomprises a turned rear edge indicated at 22 to provide a socket for theback of the razor, an elongated transverse opening 24 and a series ofteeth indicated at 26 projecting into the opening 24. As will be evidenthereafter, a removable blade 23 will, when in operation, have its endportions resting upon projections 21 at the sides of the opening 24 andin engagement with the edge of the opening without engaging the teeth 26and its rear edge in engagement with the turned portion 22.

The body 2 is provided with a resilient integral tongue 32 having acentral pin-like extension 34 which, when the lever is in use forshaving, is adapted to project into a notch 38 forming an extension ofan opening 36 in the head. Under these `conditions the pin 34 projectsthrough an opening 40 in the blade, the blade being engaged by theshoulders 42 provided by the upper end of the tongue 32 on oppositesides of the pin 34.

Reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8 will indicate the handling of theblade and the fashion in which it is secured for shaving. If the head2li is thrown to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 8the blade may be slipped through the opening 24, back edge rst, so thatits back edge 3B will rest on the turned portion 22 behind the body 2.If, now, by the action of the thumb, the tongue 32 is pressed rearwardlyand the head 2E is swung clockwise, as viewed in Figure 8, the pin 34will enter the opening 40 in the blade and by reason of its beingpressed toward the left from its full line position illustrated inFigure 3 it will enter the notch 38. Ultimately, the positionillustrated in Figure 3 is then secured. The back of the blade restsagainst the turned portion 22. The lower face of the blade rests againstprojections 27, but is clear of the teeth 26 projecting slightly beyondthe same just suilieiently to secure proper shaving action and at thesame time avoid cutting of the skin. The portions of the blade at thesides of the opening 40 then rest against the shoulders 42, while thepin 34 engages the back edge of the opening 4Q and rests within thenotch 38 exerting, as will be evident from Figures 3 and 8, asubstantial clockwise force on the head 20 to keep it as far in aclockwise direction as is permitted by the rest of the construction. Itmay be noted that under these conditions the position of the blade isdetermined primarily by Contact with the projections 21 and the oppositeedge of the opening 24 whereby the blade is sprung between theprojections 2l and the opposite edge of opening 2li, rather than by somedefinite positioning surface associated with the turned portion 22. Theresult of the foregoing is to secure holding of the blade in accuratelydefined position for shaving.

As illustrated in Figure 5, the extensions 4 and S forming the handle ofthe razor are provided with lips 46 and 44, respectively, between whichmay be entered the blade which will be resiliently held by the springaction urging together the members 4 and 8. Tn order to provide acarrier for the blade when not in use an arm 48 is pivoted at 50 to thebody 2 and has at its outer end an arrangement as illustrated,particularly in Figlure 5, comprising portions 52 and 54 arranged tooverlap the extensions 4 and 8 and lip 55 and 58 corresponding to lips44 and 4S and provided to complete a proper hand grip. The holding ofthe razor is accomplished by gripping the widened assembly illustratedin Figure 5 by the fingers with the thumb resting in the saddle providedby the serrated face of the turned portion l) of the extension 8 and theears I4' which are shaped to Iprovide a comfortable seat for the thumb,when the razor is held in one position, and as the lov/er portion of theears I4 are also rounded the thumb may engage the lower faces of theears I4. As the handle has considerable width when compared with itsthickness, the handle can readily be grasped when the razor is invertedfor shaving. By reason of this shaping of the elements of the handle,the razor is inevitably held by the same user in substantially the samedefinite position with resulting uniformity of shaving habits ascontrasted with such razors as are provided with cylindrical orsubstantially cylindrical handles, as a result of which uniformity ofshaving operations is essentially impossible.

'I'he handle arrangement, as will be evident from Figure 5, provides aconvenient housing for the blade when not in use. With the arm 48 turnedabout the pivot 50 to remove its end from the vicinity of the blade, thearrangement of the handle also provides a convenient mounting of theblade for stropping, as indicated in Figure 6. In this case, the bladeis held resiliently by the clamping action between the members vl and 8and the ears 44 and 46 by resting on a strop indicated at S serve toposition the blade edge at the proper angle for good stropping.

When it is desired to remove the blade from the razor it is onlynecessary to press upon the tongue 32 to release it from the notch 38whereupon the head and the blade may be turned to the dotted lineposition illustrated in Figure 8. By holding the inside of the headdownwardly and icking the blade by a fingernail inserted in the opening35, the cutting edge of the blade is caused to move forwardly throughthe opening 24 and when the rear edge clears the body 2 of the razor theblade will fall therefrom with its rear edge downward so that uponstriking a support or falling into the palm of the hand, damage to theblade or cutting is avoided.

Figure 4 illustrates the position of the head of the razor when folded,it being evident that in the absence of a blade there is nothing tointerfere with the turning of the head to the position 4 illustrated.Under such conditions and with the blade located as illustrated inFigure 5, a flat compact structure results so that the razor may bereadily packed for transportation or put aside.

W'hile the stropping arrangement of Figure 6 is highly satisfactory amore elaborate stropping arrangement may be provided as illustrated inFigures 9 and 10. In this case, 4 and 8 are the extensions of the handleportion of the razor joined at the bend indicated at 6', the lips 44 and46 being omitted. The blade 60 is entered between the extensions 4 and8' and a stropping guide 62 is then secured to the handle by entrance ofthe end of the handle through an opening 66 in a turned portion 64 ofthe guide and clamping of the handle between a finger portion 68 and aresilient finger l0, the latter being desirably provided with adepression 'l2 forming a projection on its under side adapted toresiliently enter a slight depression in the member Il. This assuresdefinite positioning of the guide on the handle. A pair of rollers 14and 'Ni are provided in the guide and are adapted to engage the strop Sduring the stropping operation as indicated in Figure 10. The strop maypass either between the members 64 0r 68, or preferably one of them iscut away to clear the strop when it extends between the blade edge andeither` of the rollers 14' or 16, the other of these then being inposition to act as a guide along the edge of the strop.

Figure 11 illustrates a modification in which the guide 62 1s providedwith guiding extensions 78 and 80 formed integral therewith insubstitution for the rollers 14 and 16.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A safety razor having a handle, a head pivoted at its rear toopposite sides of the handle, said head having a blade slot through thefront thereof and a seat at the rear for the blade, and a leaf springextending upwardly from the handle having a pin at its upper end adaptedto enter an opening in a blade to spring the blade between the oppositeedges of the opening and thereby retain the blade in shaving position.

2. A safety razor having a handle, a head pivoted at its rear toopposite sides of the handle, said head having a blade slot through thefront thereof and a seat at the rear for the blade, there being a notchin the head, and a leaf spring extending upwardly from the handle havinga pin at its upper end adapted to enter an opening in a blade and toengage the notch in the head to spring the blade between the oppositeedges of the opening and thereby position the blade in the head.

3. A safety razor having a handle, a head pivoted at its rear toopposite sides of the handle, said head having a blade slot through thefront thereof and a seat at the rear for the blade, there being a notchin the head, and a leaf spring extending upwardly from the handle havinga shouldered pin at its upper end, the pin being adapted to enter anopening in a blade and the notch in the head, while the shoulders on thespring engage the face of the blade to spring the blade, whereby theblade is properly positioned in the head and the head is held in shavingposition.

4. A safety razor having a head pivoted at its rear to opposite sides ofthe handle, said head having a blade slot through the front thereof,there being a notch and a seat in the head, a blade mounted in the headwith its back in engagement with the seat and the front thereofextending through the slot in the head, and a leaf spring havingshoulders and a pin at its upper end, the pin extending through theopening in the blade and seated in the notch in the head, while theshoulders engage the face of the blade and tension the blade between theopposite faces of the slot.

5. A safety razor having a head pivoted at its rear to opposite sides ofthe handle, said head having a blade slot through the front thereof, theforward edge of the slot having teeth throughout its length, there beinga notch and a seat inthe head, a blade mounted in the head with its backin engagement with the seat and the front thereof extending through theslot in the head, and a leaf spring having shoulders and a pin at itsupper end, the pin extending through the opening in the blade and seatedin the notch in the head, while the shoulders engage the face of theblade and spring the blade between the rear edge of the slot andprojections on the forward edge to tension the blade.

6. A safety razor having a head pivoted at its rear to the upper end ofopposite sides of a han dle formed of sheet metal, means for positioninga blade in the head including a spring seat, and a leaf spring formed ofpart of the handle, having means at its free end to engage an opening inthe blade and the spring seat, to secure the blade in shaving positionin the head and retain the head in a fixed position.

7. A safety razor having a head pivoted at its rear to opposite sides ofa handle and adapted to be swung into a blade receiving position andinto shaving position, means in the head for positioning a bladeincluding a spring seat, and a leaf spring formed of part of the handlehaving means at its free end to engage an opening in the blade and thespring seat to secure the blade in shaving position in the head andretain the head in a fixed shaving position.

8. A safety razor having a head pivoted at its opposite sides to theupper end of a sheet metal handle and having a spring receiving opening,

means in the head for positioning a blade in shaving position includinga spring seat, said head being adapted to be shifted into bladereceiving position, shaving position and collapsed position,` and a leafspring formed of part of the handle f having means at its free end toengage the blade and spring seat to hold it in shaving position in thehead when the head is moved to shaving position and to hold the head inxed shaving position with relation to the handle when seated in theslot, the pivotal connections between the head and handle and the springalso being adapted to permit the head to be moved against the handlewhen the blade is removed, the free end of the spring extending throughthe opening in the head, whereby the head is retained in positionagainst the handle by the engagement of the face of the spring againstthe slot in the head to hold the head in its collapsed position.

9. A handle for a safety razor formed of sheet metal, said -handlehaving a broad body portion provided at its sides with lugs, a razorreceiving head pivoted at its rear to said lugs, a leaf spring formedfrom the intermediate portion of the handle having means at its upperend for retaining a :blade in the head and retaining the head in a xedshaving position.

10. A handle for a safety razor formed of sheet metal, said handlehaving a broad body portion provided at its sides with lugs, a razorreceiving head pivoted at its rear to said lugs, a leaf spring formedfrom the intermediate portion of the handle having means at its upperend for retaining a blade in the head and retaining the head in xedshaving position, the handle being of reduced width below the body andturned upon itself to provide a downwardly and an upwardly extendingportion in contact with each other, an outwardly curved portion at theupper end of the upwardly extending portion, and ears on the lastmentioned portion below the curved portion having rounded faces, thecurved upper portion of the spring and the concaved faces of the earsforming a saddle to seat the thumb.

l1. A handle for a safety razor formed of sheet metal, said handlehaving a broad body portion provided at its sides with lugs, a razorreceiving head pivoted at its rear to said lugs, a leaf spring formedfrom the intermediate portion of the handle having means at its upperend for retaining a blade in the head and retaining the head in axedshaving position, the handle being of reduced width below the body andturned upon itself to provide a downwardly and an upwardly extendingportion in contact with each other, an outwardly curved portion at theupper end of the upwardly extending portion, ears on the last mentionedportion below the curved portion having concaved faces, a lip extendinglaterally from each portion of the handle below the ears, an arm pivotedto the handle having portions adapted to overlap the handle portions inthe plane of the lips on the handle and lips on the overlapping portionsof the lever, the lips on the handle and the lever forming a hand grip,when the lever portions overlap the handle portions.

12. A handle for a safety razor formed of sheet metal, said handlehaving a broad body portion provided at its sides with lugs, a razorreceiving head pivoted to said lugs, the handle being of reduced widthbelow the body and turned upon itself to provide a downwardly and anupwardly extending portion in Contact with each other, an outwardlycurved portion a the upper end of the upwardly extending portion, earson the last mentioned portion below the curved portion having concavedfaces, forming a thumb engaging portion.

13. A handle for a safety razor formed of sheet metal, said handlehaving a broad body portion provided at its sides with lugs, 'a razorblade receiving head pivoted at its rear to said lugs and arranged to befolded against the handle, a leaf spring formed from the intermediateportion of the head having means at its upper end for retaining a bladein the head and retaining the head in a fixed shaving position and alsoto retain the head in its folded position, the handle being of reducedwidth below the body and turned upon itself to provide a downwardly andan upwardly extending portion in contact with each other, a lipextending laterally from each portion of the handle below the ears, anarm pivoted to the handle having portions adapted to overlap the handleportions in the plane 0f the lips on the handle and lips on theoverlapping portions of the lever, the lips on the handle and the leverforming a hand grip, when the lever portions overlap the handleportions, while the space between the handle portions in the plane ofthe lips form a carrier for the blade when not in use and when theoverlapping portions of the lever are swung away from the handle, thelips 7 on the handle form positioning means for stropping a blade whenin the carrier.

14. A folding safety razor having a blade carrier for the blade when notin use, comprising a handle formed of sheet metal having a wide body andnarrow grasping portion extending downwardly' therefrom, a head pivotedto the upper portion of the body, adapted to be swung against the bodyinto collapsed position when not in use, the narrow portion of thehandle extending downwardly and bent upon itself to form an upwardlyextending member having a free upper end, the downwardly and upwardlyextending members having lips extending laterally therefrom, a leverpivoted to the handle having portions adapted to overlap the downwardlyand upwardly extending members of the handle in the plane of the lips onsaid members, lips on said lever members extending laterally therefromin the opposite direction of the lips on the handle, the two sets oflips forming finger grasps on the handle, while the two members of thehandle and the overlapping portions of the lever form a carrier for theblade when not in use.

l5. A folding safety razor having a blade carrier for the blade when notin use, comprising a handle formed of sheet metal having a wide body andnarrow grasping portion extending downwardly therefrom, a head pivotedto the upper portion of the body, adapted to be swung against the bodyinto collapsed position when not in use, the narrow portion of thehandle extending downwardly and bent upon itself to form an upwardlyextending member having a free upper end, the downwardly and upwardlyextending members having lips extending laterally therefrom, a leverpivoted to the handle having portions adapted to overlap the downwardlyand upwardly extending members of the handle in the plane of the lips onsaid members, lips on said lever members extending laterally therefromin opposite direction of the lips on the handle, the two sets of lipsforming nger grasps on the handle, while the two members of the handleand the overlapping portions of the lever form a carrier for the bladewhen not in use and a spring on the body portion for holding the head incollapsed position when not in use and for holding the blade and head inshaving position.

HENRY OSTROVSKY.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the le of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 860,917 Hoffman July 23,19671,016,344 Makarof Feb. 6,1912

